Trigger type gaseous blow torch



Oct 8, 1957 E. D. wlLsoN TRIGGER TYPE GAsEoUs BLow TORCH Filed 061:.' 21. 1953 United tates Patent i TRIGGER TYPE GASEOUS BLOW TORCH Edward D. Wilson, Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Application October 21, 1953, Serial No. 387,448

4 Claims. (Cl. 67-20.1)

Aof burning butane and propane.

It is the object of the present invention to provide such a trigger operated gas torch designed particularly for theburning of propane and butane.

ln the designing of such a torch, the major problem is in Vtheigniting, and it is a particular feature of this invention that novel valve means are provided by means of which the gas to be burned is presented to the burning tube in very small quantities and at consequent low velocity to permit igniting the same, after which the-valve means is fully` opened to permit a full supply of gas to the burning tube which is capable of supporting combustion of the high velocity gases which it would otherwise be impossible to ignite.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a gas Ytorch of the type described means for readily and accuratelyV regulating the initial rate of ow of gas to the burning tube.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will Abe apparent from the -annexed specification in which:

Figurel is a vertical section of a device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is .an enlarged fragmentary side view with parts broken away for clarity of illustration and partly in section ofthe striker wheel Vand lratchet mechanism embodied in the present invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged4 perspective of the valve plunger utilized in connection with the present invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the

torch isin the shape of apistol and is provided Awith a body indicated generally bythe numeral having a vhandle 11 in the form of a pistol grip and an upper body 'portion 12. The handle 11 is hollow as indicated and is closed by a plate 13 provided with an opening 14 in which is seated a fitting 15 having a shoulder 16 and a threaded shank 17 on which is tightened a nut 18 to retain the iitting in the opening 14. The fitting 15 has seated in the bore thereof a tube 19 which extends upwardly through the ,interior of the handle 11. The upper portion 12 of the body 10 is provided with a tapped bore 20. A cylindrical member 21 is threaded at its upper end to be received in the tapped bore and is provided with an enlarged central bore 22 and reduced central bore 23 forming a valve seat 24,between the two bores. A coil spring 25 is received within the. bore 2,2, and a ball 26 is provided adapted to engage the valve Vseat 24 andthe upper end of the coil 'spring 25. The upper end of the tube 19 is threaded and Patented Oct. 8, 1957 lce,

received within the threaded open end 27 of the cylindrical member and serves as a retainer for the lower end of the coil spring 25. The upper portion 12 of the body 10 is provided with a transverse bore 30 extending part way therethrough and a reduced bore 31 communicating therewith. The bore 30 is tapped as at 32 to receive a screw 33. The screw 33 has a reduced portion providing a stub shaft 34. A valve plunger 35, shown in detail in Figure 3, is provided seated in the bore 30, which plunger 35 is composed of a spring housing 36 and a stepped cam 37 having a rod 38 affixed to one end thereof. The rod 38 extends through the bore 31, and a pair of O-rings 39 and 40 provide an air-tight seal between the rod 38 and the bore 30. The spring housing 36 has a bore 41 at one end through which extends the stub shaft 34, on the end of which there is seated a coil spring 42, the other end of which bears against one end of the stepped cam 37 and is retainedthereon by a stub shaft 43 carried thereby.

The upper portion 12 of the body 10 is provided with a bore 44 which is tapped to receive a screw 45, the lower end of which bears upon a coil spring 46, the lower end of which coil spring 46 bears against an O-ring 47 seated in the bore 44. The bore 44 communicates with a reduced bore 48 which itself communicates with the bore 30. The screw 45 is provided with a reduced portion forming a rod-like extension 50, which extension 50 is disposed in the bore 4S and adapted to contact the upper surface of the spring housing 36. A rod 52 of smaller diameter than the bore 23 is received in the bore 23 and has its upper end contacting the lower side of the spring housing 36 when the valve mechanism is closed. The upper portion 12 of the body 10 is provided with a pair of spaced side pieces 51 presenting a channel, across which there are mounted pins 53, 54 and 55. Pivoted about the pin 53 is an adjustable toggle bar 56. As shown, the toggle bar 56 consists of a flat piece of metal bent about the pin 53 to present two superposed plates 57 and 5S held apart by an inwardly and outwardly bent portion 59 of the plate 57. The plate 58 is tapped to receive an adjusting screw 60 by means of which the distance between the plates 57 and 58 may be adjusted. The head 61 of the screw 6i) is, in practice, squared or iiattened on two sides for a sliding tit within the flanges of avchannel-shaped trigger to be hereinafter described. Thus the head 61 will be locked against turning by the flanges of the trigger after it is once set. The pin 54 pivotally mounts a trigger 62 which is generally channel-shaped as indicated, and the walls of the trigger are extended laterally opposite the toggle bar S6 forming a trigger cam 63 engaging the toggle bar. The upper end of the trigger 62 is iiattened to provide a pad 64. A rod 66 is provided in the channel formed by the flanges 51 and extends between two inturned flanges 67 to be pivotally engaged on a pin 68 carried in a channel-shaped extension 69 of the muzzle 70. The rod 66 is provided with a collar 71, and a coil spring 72 is mounted upon the rod 66 having one end bearing upon the collar 71 and the other end bearing on the inturned flanges 67. The rod 66 rests upon the pin 55, and its inner end is adapted to be engaged by the pad 64 on the trigger.

The upper portion 12 of the body 1i) is provided with a bore 75, and a smaller bore 76 extends from the bore to the bore 43. The bore 75 is enlarged as at 78 forming a shoulder 79. A tubular draw-nut bearing 3() is mounted in a bore dl aligned with the bore 78. The upper part of the body 12 is relieved as at 82 to provide access to the draw-nut 83 by the lingers oan operator. The draw-nut 33 is provided with a female thread 84 and with an enlarged bore 85. The draw-nut bearing Sti has one end thereof seated in the bore 85 and exa muzzle bushing 90 which is provided with a collar 91, 'a titlreaded portion 92' and a smooth portion 93" adapted' to be seated in the bore 87. A combustion tube 95 is Aprovided which is adapted to be received inthe bushing 9,6, the draw-nut' bearing 80 and the bore 75, and has its inner end threaded for threaded connection with the threadsY S4 'of the draw-nut 33; The combustion tube 95' provided with a notch 96 in the lower Vside 'thereofandis also provided with a pair of aligned holes 97 (one only of which is shown in Figure l), which holes 'are adapted to align with similar holes (not shown) in the draw-nut bearing 80 and a pair ofelongated slots only of which is shown and numbered 1'04' in Pigure 2*) in the rear portion ofV the muzzle 70. l

The combustien tube 95 is provided with a venturi section 98. The combustion tube 95 houses an indexing tube 99, one `end of which has a portion cut away as at 100 to provide a p'ortionto overlie the; indexing pin 77. The' indexing tube 99 is provided with an annular recess 101i in which is mounted a rubber gasket 102 adapted to seal on the shoulder 79' when the` combustion tube 95 is drawn up tight by the draw-nut 83. The 'combustion tube houses a metering jet 163, Vthe, nozzle of which jet' is disposed Substantially adjacent the. holes 97 and `associated openings in the draw-'nut bearing and muzzle. The mechanism just described andY constituting the upper portion of the torch is substantially the same as that shown' in the aforesaid patent to Warren A. Sparks No. 2,506,114.

` The muzzlel 70 is provided with a circular opening A105 in which there is pivotallymounted 'a lighter wheel 166, which lighter wheel mounts a stepped ratchet mechanism 197'. The muzzle 70 is also provided with a bore ftl communicating with the opening '5, and the lower lportion ofl the muzzle is bored and tapped as. lat 1:09

to receive a reduced threaded portion 1`I0` of' a screw 11:1. A leaf spring i12 is bent into a J-sh'ape as shown andl provided with a pair of aligned openings 113 and 121:4'. The opening 113 receives the enlarged shank of lthe screw lll, and the opening 114' lrides upon the shoulder formed by said enlarged shank. The upper end of the leaf spring 112 mounts a loosely riveted pin 115 disposed Within the bore 198. A piece. of iut 116 is disposed Within the bore 108 and. held into abrading contact with the wheel 106 by means of the leaf spring 112 and the piu 115, and the tension of the spring can be adjusted by making up or backing ot thesc'rew 111'.

The forward end of the lower portion of the body l2 is provided with a slot 126 and a downwardly drilled hole 123 in which is positioned the leg 122 of an actuator 23, the forward portion of which lies in'a here 124 in the muzzle 7@ communicating with the opening 105 therein.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the inner vend 125 of the actuator 123 is bent inwardly to having a spring contact with the stepped portions of the ratchet 107.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows: Assuming the. littng 15 to be attached to a source of butano or propane under pressure, the operator simply takes the torch in. hand, depresses the trigger 62 causing the pad 64 to strike the endy of the rod 66 thus forcing the muzzle 7l? to-ride forwardly against the bias of the spring '72 on the bearing 80. As this is accomplisbed, the end 125 of. the actuator 123 slips over v123 turns lthe' wheel 106 against the flint 116 thus caus- -ing a spark to be thrown into the region ofthe notch vl9( in the combustion tube 95.

ln the. meantime, the cam 63' engages the plate SVS-.Which l in turn forces the rod 38 and associated stepped cam 37v against' the bias" of the" spring' 42'.

As the step 37a moves to the left (Figure 3), it will separate the upper and lower leaves of the spring housing 36 thus forcing the rod 52 downward and unseating the ball 26 from the valve seat 24. It will be noted that the free end of the lower leaf spring 36 is beveled and that the edges of thel steps`I 37a and 37b are rounded to permit this action. It may be well to point out that the screw i5 has been adjusted' to regulate the position of the rod-like extension 50- bearing on. the top leaf of the spring housing so. as to provide for the exact amount of opening of the ball 26 from the valve seat 2'4" at this point. Gas thus released. by the' unseatng of the ball 26 passes through the bore 76 into the gas combustion tube and in so doing picks up air from the openings 97 and 104 and associated opening in the bearing tube. This mixture of gas and air is ignited by the spark. from the wheel 1'0'6 and flint 116l As 'pointed' out above, the mechanism just' described has been adjusted t'o only slightly' remove the ball 26 from the 'seatV 21V so as to pass to the combustion tube only a small amount of gas at a consequent reduced pressure. and velocity. This will result in ignitingof the flame and' 'will maintain a usable small tlame. Further depressing of the trigger 62 will cause the second step 37b ofthe stepped camv 37" to enter between the leaves of the spring housing 36. thus further .depressing the rod. 52 and completely unseating the ball 26 from the seat 24, allowing gas 'at 'full pressure and volume to pass to the 'combustion tube.

A ltip comprising 'a 'cylindrical member 131 attached to a collar 132 in which thereis seated a plurality of asbestos rings 133 retained .by a sleeve 1'34' internally threaded for 'threaded 'connection'with 'the threads 92 is removably received upon the muzzle bushing. 90. The cylindrical member 131-ispro'vid'ed with 'a perforated plate which has a centrally disposed cylindrical extension 141'.

The asbestos rings v133 vare required' in order 4to insulate the torch as it has been found in practice "that butane and propane when burned in `a Ytorch of the type of this invention generate 'such an intense llame .that in a very short period of time Vthe entire torch becomes too hot to )handle in the absence of such insulation.

A spare llint compartment is conventionally provided comprising a bore 200r closed by a threa'de'dplugA 201th accommodate spare ints 202.

While there has Ybeen described what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled. in the art jthat various changes and modiiications can be made thereinV without departing from the essence of the inven- .tion and it is intended to cover herein all such changes pended claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas torch of the-type described. comprising a body; gas passage means in saidbody; a trigger mounted on saidY body; ili'nt andstriker means actuated by said trigger and a two. stage valve associated with saidtrgger and associated with one of said gaspassage means Whereby oninitial depression of said' trigger said lvalve ispar- Vt-ially opened. andsaid-flint- -an'df-striker are actuated to ignite said'torch-'and on; further: depression of:` said trigger said valve is fully' opened; sai'd valve comprisingI a valve rseatinE one of saidpass'agemeansand aball springbiased towards said seat; a rodengageable with said ball' to uning said cam and tn'gge'r'and means for adjustably separating the leaves of said U-shaped spring.

3. In a gas torch of the type described comprising a body; gas passage means in said body; a trigger; int and striker means actuated by said trigger and a two stage valve associated with said trigger whereby on initial depression of said trigger said valve is partially opened and said int and striker are actuated to ignite said torch and on further depression of said trigger said valve is fully opened; means for adjusting the degree to which said valve is initially partially opened; and a nozzle associate-d with said gas passage, said nozzle including elements of poor heat conductivity to insulate said body from said nozzle.

4. In a gas torch of the type described comprising a body; gas passage means in said body; a trigger; int

and striker means actuated by said trigger and a two stage valve associated with said trigger whereby on initial depression of said trigger said valve is partially opened and said flint and striker are actuated to ignite said torch and on further depression of said trigger said Valve is fully opened; and means for adjusting the degree to which said valve is initially partially opened; a nozzle associated with said gas passage, said nozzle including a plurality of asbestos rings to heat insulate said body from said nozzle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 230x868 stuckenholt Dec. 1, 1942 2,477,917 Wilson Aug. 2, 1949 2,506,114 Sparks May 2, 1950 

